's Most Recent Stories

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge.

Seattle also doubled for locations in Baltimore and Chicago.

The “Sleepless” crew spent 43 days in the city, while the TriStar Pictures production hired roughly 1,500 local crew members, actors and extras. The final spending tally is $ 3.9 million, said Washington film locations coordinator Leslie Lytel.

Seattle also is working hard to develop its local film community, including active development of a movie studio on the downtown Lake Washington shoreline.

In furthering the effort, the Washington State Film & Video Office tossed a party for about 150 local film industry bigwigs last month “to nurture the indigenous community.” Among attendees: “Family Prayers” writer/director Scott Rosenfelt and Lolita Davidovich.

* * *

Related

GOT ANOTHER postcard from the folks involved in “The Endless Summer II,” which is director Bruce Brown’s two-year quest to produce the ultimate surfing movie by catching waves at the best beaches around the world. The hang-tenners were last spotted 20 miles east of Cape St. Francis Bay in Hanken, South Africa. New Line will release the movie.

A PAIR OF producer’s workshops are set to get under way in Utah and New York this month — one you know about, one you probably don’t.

The Sundance Institute Independent Producers Conference is skedded from July 29 to Aug. 1 as an intense assembly of 100 aspiring filmmakers meets to deal with such issues as creativity, finance and distribution.

A total of 38 panelists have committed to the Sundance event, including Fine Line Films prez Ira Deutchman, Sony Pictures Classics co-exec director Tom Bernard and producers Jim Jacks and Barbara Boyle. Cost of the program ranges from $ 418 to $ 811. For information, call (801) 223-4560.

Far less known, considerably cheaper at $ 175, a lot shorter and a little less intensive is the second annual Cold Spring Film Workshop.

To be held July 10 at a restored 1833 chapel roughly 55 miles north of midtown Manhattan, the event features “distributors before lunch, producers after lunch, (and) everybody for lunch.”

The Cold Spring Film Workshop is sponsored by John Pierson’s Islet, which has been involved in such recent movies as director Rob Weiss’ “Amongst Friends,” the indie comedy “My Life’s in Turnaround” and the sexy lesbian film “Go Fish.”

TriStar Pictures producer Cary Woods (“So I Married An Ax Murderer,””Rudy, “”Godzilla”) is among a handful of Hollywood types planning to attend the workshop for the hip. For information call (914) 265-2241.

* * *

HERE’S A LITTLE twist to television’s quick turnaround on the David Koresh tragedy. Patchett Kaufman Entertainment, producers of “In the Line of Duty — the Ambush at Waco,” copped an accolade from Oklahoma Gov. David Walters for outstanding contributions to the state.

The telepic was shot at the Bethesda Boys Ranch near Mounds, Okla. Sites in Tulsa, Muskogee, Beggs and Glenpool were also used.

* * *

MORE THAN $ 450 million was spent in Toronto in 1992, including 23 pix and 28 series. The list includes the Don Johnson starrer “Guilty as Sin,” director David Cronenberg’s “M. Butterfly” and chopsocky TV series “Kung Fu — The Legend Continues.”

* * *

SO HERE’S SOME location loyalty comin’ right back at ya! Country singer John Michael Montgomery filmed his musicvideo “Beer and Bones” at the Austin City Saloon in Frankfort, Ky.

Why the Austin City Saloon? Montgomery was the regular singer at the club for five years before inking his recording contract with Atlantic Records. The Kentucky Office of Film Promotion helped arrange the big gig.

* * *

A FEW MONTHS ago we told you about plans for the Sonalysts TV & Film Studios — an ambitious soundstage facility in Waterford, Conn.

Well, the facility is scheduled to have a gala Hollywood-style premiere on July 22 from 6-9 p.m. in Waterford — a town previously best known as the hometown of the Cincinnati Reds AA minor league baseball team. For information, call (203) 442-4043.

* * *

NEVADA AIN’T crapped out on the movie side. Nevada’s Motion Picture Division reported that four pix were shooting simultaneously in the state last month, including the Christopher Lambert- starrer “Roadflower,” the David Naughton-starrer “Desert Steel,” the vaunted “Bonanza the Return” and Stephen King’s “The Stand.”

Sign Up for Daily Insider Newsletter

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]

IN CASE YOU’VE been napping, “Sleepless in Seattle” looms as the biggest of bangs for Washington’s largest city, with more than 25 Seattle locations used in the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pic. Seattle aficionados will be able to spot Gas Works Park, SeaTac Airport, Pike Place Market and the Dahlia Lounge. Seattle also doubled for locations […]